Surface condenser.



H. KELLER.

SURFACE CONDENSER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 20, 1909.

1,063,696, Patented June 3, 1913.

Witnesses: invehtor:

7 Huidreich "(eifiewr %Z7 bg ,@M,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HULDREICH KELLER, 0E ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, ASSIGNOB T0 GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SURFACE CONDENSER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedJune3,1913.

Application filed July 20, 1909. Serial No. 508,657,

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HULDREIGH KELLER,

1 a citizen of Switzerland, residing at Zurich,

Switzerland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Surface Condensers; of which the following is a specification.

surface has to be increased disproportionately. The reason for this, as the most recent experiments in the field have shown, is that at low absolute pressures the amount of heat transmitted from the steam or gas through the metal walls of the tubes to the i cooling water contained therein is comparatively small.

The object of my invention is to provide a surface condensing system wherein the cooling surface is moderate in area when considered in connection with the work to be performed, and wherein high vacua may be obtained with a moderate amount of 000-1- ing or circulating water.

In carrying out my invention a surface condenser is provided having suitable tubes through which the cooling water is circulated by a pump or other source of pressure. The steam enters the condenser casing at any suitable point and passes over the tubes in the usual manner. As before stated the amount of heat transmitted from the steam or gas in a condenser to the tubes is comparatively small when the absolute pressure is low. On the other hand if the gas is caused or permitted to properly mingle or mix with water, the gas will readily give.

up its heat to said water and the latter in turn will give up its heat to the metal tubes containing the cooling or circulating water as it flows over them. To this end I con nect the storage space of the condenser, or some part or chamber connected therewith where the water of condensation collects, to the suction side of a pump. The discharge side of the pump is iped to the condenser casingat some suitab e point, as the top for example. As the water is discharged from the pipe it is more or less diffused and. as

it falls absorbs more or less heat from the gas in the condenser casing which heat is transmitted by the water of condensation to the tubes and by said tubes to the cooling or circulating water. The amount of condensat-ion water thus circulated by the pump, which is or may with advantage be a rotary or centrifugal pump, can be varied by changing its speed. The pump may work within the condenser pressure in which case it only has to overcome the geodetic height of lift and the small friction of the pipe,

or 1n another case it may raise the condom ti-on water to atmospheric pressure for. the

purpose of removing air. In the former case I provide a separate centrifugal pump which removes the excess condensation water from the condenser and raises its pressure to the desired value. I may also provide a dam or overflow within the oondenser so that a certain amount of condensation water will always be in the bottom of the casing to supply the before mentioned pump and assist the condenser in its action, as set forth more fully farther on. In the latter case a single pump is utilized which pumps the condensation water into an open receptacle in which the air is separated from the Water to a greater or less degree. Submerged in the receptacle is one end of a pipe, the opposite end of which enters the condenser casing at a suitable point, usually near the top. With this arrangement the condenser will automatically draw condensation water from the receptacle. The passage of water through the pipe is governed by a regulator which may with advantage be a float operated valve. The receptacle is provided with means for maintaining a suflicient amount of water thereinto keep the end of the pipe submerged to permit the excess to escape.

In the abcompanying drawing which is illustrative of my invention, Figure 1 is a view in section of a surface condenser and the necessary pumps for handling the condensation water; and Fig. 2 is a modification of the above wherein a single pump is employed.

1 indicates the casing of the condenser which contains the tubes 2 through which the circulating or cooling water is constantly flowing. The tubes are supported at suitable points, as at the ends by trjoe sheets 3. The head/1 is provided with a partition 5. The head 6 has an unrestrictedchamber so that the water received from the lower bank of tubes is permitted to discharge through the upper bank. Water enters through the inlet 7 and escapes by the outlet 8. The

steam to be condensed enters by the flanged lifts it to the necessary elevation and dis-.

charges it by the pipe 14 into the interior of the condenser where it absorbs heat and in turn gives it up to the tubes, as it flows over them, and to the cooling water contained therein.

In Fig. 2 the condenser is constructed as before' All of the water of condensation is conveyed by the centrifugal pump 15 which increases its pressure to that of the atmosphere and discharges it into the open tank 16, the latter being provided with an overflow 17 to insure a minimum water level therein. The lower end ofthe pipe 18 is submerged in the tank 16 and the upper end is connected to the top of the condenser casing so that it discharges into the interior thereof. The water of condensation is caused to flow through this pipe by reason of the difference in pressure between the interior of the condenser casing and that of the tank 16. The passage of water is subject to the control of the valve 19 that is actuated by a float 20 located near the bottom of the casing. The valve stem has guides 21 to direct its movements. By reason of the fact that the pump 15 raises the pressure of the water of condensation to that of the atmosphere, the air entrained with the water will freely escape. The necessary amount of water of condensation to aid the condensing operation will automatically flow back to the condenser through the pipe 18. The excess water will flow freely from the tank through the outlet or overflow pipe 17. This arrangement as well as that of Fig. 1 will insure the necessary amount of condensation water for assisting the condenser in its action.

The accumulation of a certain limited amount of condensation water in the bottom .of the condenser which is controlled either by the overflow 10 or the float 20 has two advantage in particular: First, it maintains a supply for the centrifugal pump, and sec- 0nd, the condensation water is thoroughly cooled because the tubes of the condenser having the coolest water are submerged therein.

By reason of my improved arrangement I am able to take a surface condenser of given size and materially increase its condensing capacity." I may use a multistage pump, the first portion of which circulates the water of condensation back through the condenser while the remainder increases the pressure of the water to atmosphere or any desired pressure. In this case the same amount of condensation water may be always employed in the circulation system for reccoling the gas while the excess will be determined by the amount of steam entering the condenser.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I, have described the principle of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative, and that the invention can be carried out by other means.

IVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,-

1. Ina condensing system, a surface condenser having tubes whose outer surfaces are in contact with the steam to be condensed, in combination with means for passing water through the tubes to cool them, the water of condensation and cooling water being separately maintained, a casing for the condenser, means for maintaining a quantity of condensation water in the lower portion of the casing in contact with some of said tubes, and means which receives condensation water fro-m said portion of the casin and discharges it over the tubes to convey heat from the gas contained 'in the condenser to the exterior surfaces of the cooling tubes.

2. In a condensing system, a surface condenser having tubes, a casing, and a steam inlet, in combination with means for, passing cooling water unmixed with steam through the tubes, means arranged to receive condensation water from the bottom of the condenser and discharge a portion of it into said casing and in such manner as to permit it to mix with the steam and flow over said tubes to transmit heat to the outer walls thereof, said means including a pump and conduit means for carrying off the excess condensation water.

3. In a condensing system, a surface condenser having a steam inlet and cooling tubes, in combination with a conduit admitting exhauststeam thereto, means for circulating cooling water through the tubes and maintaining it entirely separate from the steam, said water entering the lower tubes and flowing toward the top of the conwill ,denser, means for accumulating a limited quantity of condensation water in the lower part of the casing in which some of said lower and cooler tubes are submerged, means which receives condensation water unmixed with cooling Water from the lower part of the casing and'returns it .to the upper part thereof to mingle with the asflcontained therein so as to convey heat rom said gas that of the atmosphere, a receptacle receiv-- ing said waterfrom the pump and in which air is freed from the water, and a means for conveying condensation water from the receptacle back to the condenser casing Where it mixes with the gas therein, absorbs heat and gives it up to the cooling surfaces.

5. In a condensing system, the combination of a surface condenser having a casing in which a high degree of partial vacuum is to be maintained, a steam inlet and tubes having cooling surfaces, means conveying water through the tubes to cool said surfaces, said water being maintained separate from the steam to be condensed, a pump which receives water -of condensation only directly from the condenser casing and raises its pressure to that of the atmosphere, a receptaclereceiving said water from the pump, a means for conveying condensation water from the receptacle back into the condenser casing under the suction action of the vacuum therein where said Water mixes with the gas therein, absorbs heat and gives it up to the cooling surfaces, and a regulator for controlling the passage of water from the receptacle back to the condenser.

6. In a condensing system, the combination of a surface condenser having a casing in which a high degree of partial vacuum is to be maintained, a steam inlet and tubular cooling surfaces, means conveying .water through the interior of said tubulars'urfaces to cool them, which water is maintained separate from the steam --to"be condensed, a-

pump Whichreceives water of condensation from the casing at condenser pressure and raises its pressure to that of the atmosphere,

areceptacle receiving said Water from the pump, a means for conveyingcondensation water from the receptacle back into the easing where it mixes with the gas therein, absorbs heat and gives it up to the cooling surfaces, and a means for removing the GXCQS: water from the receptacle.

7 In a condensing system, the combination of a surface condenser having a steam inlet, cooling surfaces and a casing in which a high degree of partial vacuum is to be maintained, means for conveying water to cool said surfaces and maintaining it separate from the steam to be condensed, a pump which receives water of condensation directly from the condenser casing and raises its pressure to that of the atmosphere, a re ceptacle receiving said water from the pump, a means for conveying condensation water from the receptacle back into the casing where it mixes with the gas therein, is separate from the cooling water, absorbs heat and gives it up to the cooling surfaces, a regulator for controlling the passage of water from the receptacle back to the casing,

and a means for removing the excess water from the receptacle.

8. In a condensing system, the combination of a surface condenser having a casing, a steam inlet and cooling surfaces, means conveying Water to cool said surfaces which is kept separate from the steam to be condensed, a pump which receives water of condensation and raises its pressure to that of the atmosphere, a receptacle receiving water from the pump, a means for conveying condensation water unmixed with said cooling water from the receptacle back into the casing where it mixes with the gas, absorbs heat and gives it up to the cooling surfaces, a valve controlling the passage of Water of condensation into the casing, and a float located within the casing for controlling the action of the valve. 1

9. In a condensing system, the combination of a surface condenser having a casing, an inlet and tubes through which cooling water is circulated and maintained unmixed with thesteam to be condensed, means for maintaining a supply of condensation water in said condenser in contact with some of the tubes, a centrifugal pump that receives water from said supply in the condenser and increases its pressure, an open recepta cle that receives water from the pumps, and a conduit having one end submerged in the water in the receptacle and theother end entering the steam space of the condenser to return water of condensation to the condenser under the suction effect of the vacuum therein.

10. In a condensing system, a surface condenser having tubes, a casing and a steam inlet, in combination with means for passing cooling water unmixed with steam through the tubes, means arranged to receive condensation water from the lower portion of the condenser and dischargeit into the upper portion of the casing so as to mixwith the steam and flow over said tubes to transmit heat to the outer walls' In witness whereof, I have hereunto set thereof, Said means including a centrifugal my hand this 16th day of June, 1909.

pump and a conduit forming the sole con HULDREICH KELLER. nection between the pump and said lower Wtnesses: 5 portion of the condenser, and means for car,- HEINRICH BOLTSHAUSER,

rying off the excess, Water of condensation. TARL GUBLEB. 

